My previous job was an environment plagued with a lot of stress and hectic atmosphere—and this happened every day for about the three years I worked for the company. Really, throughout the entire period of time, I could not catch a break; going to work very early in the morning to avoid traffic jam and going back home very late thanks those piles of report I had to complete. Sure, you could tell me to work on the remaining assignments past my allocated hours at home; it would be easier that way—or so it should be. It was just impossible to bring the rest home because the next day will be peppered with new reports to complete alongside assortments of other assignments. Postponing a day’s tasks and assignments would be akin to embarking on a mission impossible. So, really, I had no choice but to go along with a routine that did not really help make me capable of enjoying a healthy lifestyle—I more often than not skipped lunch. Yes, my office paid me somewhat appropriately for all the overtime I took during my time working there. But what good money could be if you could not enjoy it the way you please?
Don’t get me wrong, I love that job. It really was what I love to do so you can bet I gave my best to my craft. My passion for the job was also the reason why I managed to stay for about three years with the company. I moved on to my new job not because I hated working for the previous company but more because I needed to relocate abroad. So it was a compulsory decision, a necessity if you may, rather than emotional one. But what was more important than all is that all the hard work I did for the office did not go unnoticed. My fellow workers pitched in to give me a parting gift that I still keep up to this point. It was a sweet gesture on their behalf because I knew back then that my busy life somewhat interfered with my social interactions yet my co-workers did not fail to realize my presence and the work I did. I am still in contact with some of them at the moment, occasionally hanging out with them every now and again to share some aspects of each other’s lives.
But what was more memorable to me was the plaques I received from my boss—not just ones given to me when I resigned from the job but also those I got when I was still there. As a toke of gratitude for my dedication and diligence, my boss awarded me with plaques for the “Employee of the Month” title five times in a row. When I was about to move out of the office, he summoned me to his room and awarded my with a final award plaque with an inscription that showed how grateful he is to have worked with me all those years.
